Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill looks watches during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 31-13. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill says he's moving forward and the departure of wide receiver A.J. Barker is old news.

Barker publicly and angrily announced he was leaving the team on Sunday, Nov. 18.

Some of Minnesota's players have approached Kill on the topic and he says he has preferred to deflect any commentary.

"I said, 'You know coach, you know who I am,' " he added. "They've been great. All those seniors, they want to concentrate on playing football and concentrate on guys that are here.

"Players leave programs and things happen, and I've said publicly I feel bad about it, and I really do. But I'm responsible for 115 kids and I got to put the focus on those kids that are here, those kids that want to be here and have gone through it. And let me tell you, a lot of 'em have gone through a whole lot, and that's where my focus is going to be."

It will be senior day when the Gophers play host to Michigan State on Saturday, and 15 seniors will be saluted.

One is wide receiver/quarterback MarQueis Gray.

Barker's actions caught Gray by surprise.

"How it happened, that's something that's going to affect us all," he said, "but that's between coach Kill and A.J. I wish A.J. the best."

Briefly

The Gophers received the contract last week to sign that officially adds New Mexico State to the schedule to host Minnesota on Sept. 7, 2013, and travel to TCF Bank Stadium on Sept. 13, 2014. The two games replace a contract with North Carolina, which the U bought out for $800,000.